Floating base for hydroaeroplanes.



ORTIZ.

FLOATING BASE FOR HYDROAEROPLANES. APPLICATION man APR. 1. 19:].

1,287,737. I Patented Dec.17, 1918.

' l/VVE/VTO W/TA EsJ- v 17%? e1? Off/z ITTIIP VEK JULIEN ORTIZ, G REENVILLE, DELAWARE.

FLOATING BASE FOB HYDROAEROPLANES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1"7, 1918.

Application filed April 7, 1917. Serial No. 160,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIEN ORTIZ, a citizen of France, residing at Greenville, county of New Castle, and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Floating Bases for Hydroaeroplanes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification. v

The object of my invention is to provide a hangar or housing for hydroaeroplanes, on the water, whereby they may procure a landing place and when desirable be completely screened from view for purposes of safety.

Mv invention comprises a large floating pontoon, in general boat-shape, the central portion of whose deck is capable of being opened, presenting a vertically movable platform for the reception of the hydroaeroplane, means for raising and lowering said platform, means for tilting the pontoon with one end elevated for affording increased angular direction for the hydroaeroplane at the start of flight, means for completely submerging the pontoon in case of danger, and means for maintaining visual observation above the surface of the water when, the pontoon is so submerged.

My invention also'provides means of defense and of attack, and has other advantages which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.-

I will now proceed with a descrip ion of a preferred embodiment of my i vention, shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation, showing the hangar or pontoon in normal floating position with a hydroaeroplane, shown in dotted lines inside.

Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the pontoon tilted and a hydroaeroplane in raised position ready for flight.

The pontoon a is shown as built somewhat like the hull of a ship, except that both ends are shaped alike. The central portion of the deck, extending preferably about one-third of its length, as shown in Fig. 1 closed by sliding water tight doors 6, b. By appropriate mechanism, not shown, these doors may be slid into the open position shown in Fig. 2.

A platform is supported in a horizontal position as regards the pontoon, within the central opening thus formed, by means of chains (Z, at the corners of the platform, passing up over sheaves e beneath the deck, and again downward to winding drums f, within the pontoon. Winding drums f are interconnected and operable in unison by means of electric power provided in the pontoon but not shown, as it forms no part of my invention and may be readily supplied and'connected up by those well versed in the art.

The remainder of the deck, at both ends of the central opening, is covered by tilting platforms 9, hinged to the deck at their inner sides at l and capable of being inclined to the deck of the pontoon by means of racks and pinions 2' connected with the above mentioned source of power. These platforms 9 are of substantially rectangular shape and when lying flat, and with doors I) open and central platformlc raised to the level of the deck, the surface of the pontoon affords ample scope for a hydroaeroplane alighting thereon. It should then be moved to a central position, upon platform a, as shown in Fig. 2, when this platform may be lowered, carrying the hydroaeroplane down within the pontoon, the doors 6 being closed above it.

When is is desired to make a flight, the reverse operation is carried out, and the tilting platform 9, which is at the front of the hydroaeroplane, is elevated at the desired angle to assist in the initial rise.

When danger threatens the pontoon, as the approach of an enemy in time of war, the entire pontoon may be submerged by means of chains 9' passing out of both ends of the pontoon and securely attached to the bottom of the sea at their lower ends by weights suflicientlyheavy for the purpose or by an- 1 chors firmly embedded in the bottom. Chains 1 7 pass into water tight compartments at the ends of the pontoon, and are there capable of being wound upon drums Ia connected with the source of'power before mentioned. In tlns manner, by winding-in both chains '3', the pontoon may be drawn entirely out of sight eneath the surface of the water, in which case a periscope m provides an outlook abovethe surface for the crew. The periscope is hinged to the pontoon as at n,

so that it maybe turned down when not inposition, as shown in Fig. 2, to assist in the the action of the hinged platforms 9 in securing the desiredv angle for the beginning of the flight, and also for bringing a portion of the deck down to the water level to assist in the landing of a hydroaeroplane thereon.

The pontoon is provided with propellers 1' at the ends to give longitudinal motion and propellers 8, one on either side, near opposite ends, to turn the pontoon. The propellers are connected with the source of power in such a way. as to be separately and individually. controlled.

The pontoon has centain portholes 0, on bothsides, just above the water level when) ntoon is in normal floating position, providing windows of observation for the crew without exposing themselves on the deck. Intermediate of said portholes o, are other openings through which machine guns maybe fired or torpedoes may be ejected, for purposes of attack or defense. These openings are capable of being closed when the pontoon is to be submerged, in which position however the torpedoes may be used as in ordinary submarines. U 7

The pontoon is intended for anchorage at some naval base, not far from the shore line, where chains 9' may be most readily made fast to the bottom. Having no upperworks above the deck, which is normally only a few feet above the water line, it is inconspicuous, and presents nothing in the way of funnels or rigging to be discovered I at a distance. The mterior is of suflicient volumeto contain an adequate source of power to operate the above described deyices, quarters for the crew, a machine shop for repairing hydroaeroplanes, and storage room for more than one of the latter.

- Having now fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by. Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a'floating base for hydroaeroplanes,

the combination with a floating hull provided with a flat deck, offlexible connections from the opposite ends thereof for attachment to means of anchorage to the sea bottom, and means to vary the'relative lengths of said connections, thereby perwearer mitting-one end of the deck to be submerged to provide a submerged inclined shelf upon which the hydroaeroplane will ground.

2.- In a floating base for hydroaeroplanes, the combination with a floating hull provided with a deck having an opening, of two deck sections adapted to close said opening, one section being movable vertically'to allow a hydroa'eroplane thereon to be ra sed to the deck level or lowered into the'interior of the hull and the other section being movable into substantial alinement with the deck upon the lowering of the first section as aforesaid.

3. In a floating base for hydroaeroplanes; the combination with a floating hull provided with a deck having an opening, of

two deck sections adapted -to close said v opening, one section being movable vertically to allow-a hydroaeroplane thereon to be raised to the deck level or lowered into the interior of the hull and the other section 4 comprising two members adapted to slide horizontally under the deck when the first section is elevated and to slide into position to close said-opening when the first section is-lowered.

4.- In afloating basefor hydroaeroplanes, the combination with a floating hull provided with a deck, of a tilting platform on the deck to facilitate the launching of a hydroaeroplane, and means to tilt the hull as a whole, thereby providing a plurality of deck surfaces with varymg degrees of inclination to facilitate the launching of a hydro--- aeroplane.

5. In a floating base for hydroaeroplanes, the combination with' a floatinghull provided with a deck, having an opening between the fore and aft sections ofthe deck,

of two movable deck sections adapted to close the opening, one movable deck section being movable-vertically to allow a hydroaeroplane thereonto be raisedto the deck level or 'loweredinto the interior of the hull and the othe'rmovable section being movable into substantial alinement with the deck upon the lowering of the first section, and platforms on the fore and aft sections of the deck, the ends of said platforms nearest the central opening being pivoted on horizontal axes.

6. In a floating base for hydroaeroplanes,

upon the lowering of the first section, and

- platforms on the fore and aft sections of the deck, the ends of said platforms nearest the central opening being pivoted on horizontal axes, and means to tilt the entirehull in the same general direction of inclination as the platforms.

7. In a floating base for hydroaeroplanes, the combination with a floating hull providedwith a flat deck, of means to submerge 10 one end of the deck and a propeller carried by said hull adapted when it is revolvedto present the submerged end of said deck to .an incoming hydroaeroplane.

Intestimony of which invention, I have 15 hereunto set my hand, at'Greenville, Delaware, this third day of April, 1917.

JULIEN ORTIZ. 

